Fluorine-containing resin composition having low refractive index

ABSTRACT

An active energy ray-curable resin composition which gives a cured product having a refractive index of not more than 1.44 comprises (I) a fluorine-containing polymer composed of (A) and at least one of (B) and (C): (A) a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate, (B) an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester and (C) a mono(meth)acrylate and having a fluorine atom content of at least 30% by weight, (II) a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate, (III) a mono(meth)acrylate and (IV) a polyfunctional monomer containing at least two (meth)acryloyl groups in the molecule. Optical fibers are produced by coating the above composition on a core material and irradiating active energy rays onto the coating to form a cured cladding of the composition.

This invention relates to a resin composition curable by irradiation of active energy rays such as electron beams or ultraviolet light. More specifically, this invention pertains to an active energy ray-curable resin composition which gives a tough and transparent cured resin having a low refractive index when exposed to irradiation of active energy rays, and to a method of forming optical fibers using the resin composition.

Fluorine-containing polymers have been utilized as a highly functional material in various fields because of their generally high chemical resistance, weatherability, water repellence, oil repellence and surface smoothness. In recent years, their low refractive index has attracted attention, and they have come into active use as a cladding material for optical fibers or a low-refractive coating material.

An optical fiber is produced from an inorganic glass or a synthetic resin, and consists of a core portion having excellent transparency and a high refractive index and a clad portion having a relatively low refractive index.

As the clad portion, coatings or claddings of silicone compounds or fluorine-containing polymers having a low refractive index have been proposed and come into commercial acceptance. Some examples of forming such a clad portion are given below.

(1) A method which comprises coating a drawn quartz core fiber with a silicone resin composition, and thermally curing the coating to form a clad portion of the silicone resin on the core.

(2) A method which comprises composite-spinning a poly(methyl methacrylate) or polystyrene as a core material and a fluorine-containing polymer such as a polymer of a fluorinated alkyl-containing (meth)acrylate, a copolymer of a fluorinated alkyl-containing (meth)acrylate and a comonomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride/tetrafluoroethylene) or poly(vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene) obtained by such a polymerization method as solution polymerization, bulk polymerization or emulsion polymerization to form an optical fiber having a clad portion composed of the fluorine-containing polymer on the core (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 8978/1968).

(3) A method which comprises coating a melt or solution of a fluorine-containing polymer such as poly(vinylidene fluoride/tetrafluoroethylene) on a core of quartz or a plastic molded in fiber form, thereby to form a clad portion of the fluorine-containing polymer on the core (for example, U. S. Pat. No. 3,930,103).

The silicone resin used in method 1) above has excellent heat resistance but inferior mechanical strength and oil resistance. In particular, it has the defect that when immersed in mineral oils, it swells and changes in refractive index or peels off from the core. Hence, optical fibers having the silicone resin as a clad are limited in use, and are unsuitable for use in transformers, thyristors or the like or in oils. The method (1) also has the operational defect that since the silicone resin composition before curing has a short pot life and increases in viscosity with time, the coating speed or the temperature of the working environment must be controlled in order to coat it in a fixed film thickness on the core. Furthermore, because the lowest possible refractive index of silicone resins is about 1.40, they have insufficient performance as a clad of large-diameter optical fibers which are required with an increase in the capacity of communications.

The fluorine-containing polymers used in methods (2) and (3) are more suitable than the silicone resins as a clad of large-diameter optical fibers because of their refractive indices are as low as about 1.36. However, since the conventional methods of forming a clad portion from fluorine-containing polymers as shown in (2) and (3) involves composite-spinning of the core and the sheath at high temperatures or coating of a melt or solution of the fluorine-containing polymer on a core molded in fiber form, the diameter of the core or the thickness of the clad portion tends to become non-uniform. Light scattering occurs at local bent portions which are consequently formed in the interface between the core and the clad, and then transmission losses increase. Moreover, optical fibers formed by these prior methods do not always have sufficient adhesion between the core and the clad, and are liable to undergo delamination owing to various external factors such as bending, pressure change and temperature change. Their durability, therefore, is not satisfactory. Furthermore, in the method of producing optical fibers by coating a melt or solution of such a fluorine-containing polymer as shown in methods (2) and (3), curing of the clad portions is time-consuming. In the case of coating the solution, the manufacturing process and facilities become complex because of the need for removing the solvent completely out of the system. Hence, this method lacks productivity, safety and economy.

With this background, U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,209 recently proposed a method of forming optical fibers in which as a result of noting rapid curing of an acrylate monomer by photopolymerizaton, an ultraviolet-curable resin comprising a highly fluorinated monoacrylate and a trifunctional or higher acrylate monomer as a crosslinking agent is used as a cladding component. The present inventors have found, however, that an ultraviolet-curable composition composed only of the monomer components as shown in this U.S. Patent has too low a viscosity, and cannot be coated on cores by the existing production methods using a coat die. Furthermore, when such a composition is coated on the core by a spraying method, cratering occurs on the core because of the low viscosity of the composition, and no satisfactory optical fibers can be formed. Furthermore, since the cured resin obtained after ultraviolet radiation of the composition has poor transparency, the resulting optical fibers have large transmission losses.

As stated above, no cladding material of a low refractive index has yet been found which proves to be satisfactory in properties such as mechanical strength, adhesion and transparency as well as in productivity, safety and economy in the production of optical fibers and adaptability to the existing coating methods, and which permits production of optical fibers having a large numerical aperture and a large diameter.

The present inventors have made extensive investigations in order to solve the aforesaid problems of the prior art. These investigations have now led to the discovery that an active energy ray-cured product of a resin composition comprising a certain fluorine-containing polymer, a certain fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate and a (meth)acrylate monomer containing no fluorine is outstandingly superior to the conventional cladding materials for optical fibers in regard to properties such as mechanical strength, adhesion and transparency, productivity, safety and economy in the production of optical fibers, adaptability to the existing coating methods, and to wetting property and levelling property on cores of optical fibers during spray coating.

It should be understood that the expression "(meth)acrylate", used throughout the present specification, means "an acrylate, a methacrylate, or both".

The present inventors have also found that a resin composition having a viscosity suited for the coating equipment and the required coating thickness on the core can be easily prepared since its viscosity can be controlled freely by adjusting the degree of polymerization and/or the content of the fluorine-containing polymer in the composition, and that by increasing the fluorine atom content of the fluorine-containing polymer, there can be obtained a cladding material having a refractive index of about 1.36 which permits production of optical fibers having a larger numerical aperture and a larger diameter.

Thus, according to this invention, there are provided an active energy ray-curable resin composition which gives a cured product having a refractive index of not more than 1.44, said composition comprising (I) a fluorine-containing polymer composed of (A) a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate, and at least one of (B) an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester and (C) a mono(meth)acrylate and having a fluorine atom content of at least 30% by weight, (II) a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate, (III) a mono(meth)acrylate and (IV) a polyfunctional monomer containing at least two (meth)acryloyl groups in the molecule; and a method of forming optical fibers, which comprises coating the active energy raycurable resin composition on an optical fiber core and irradiating active energy rays onto the coating to cure it.

The fluorine-containing polymer (I) is essential in order to impart to the resin composition of the invention such a viscosity and a levelling property as to permit coating of the composition on an optical fiber core. If the composition lacks the fluorine-containing polymer (I), the composition is extremely difficult to coat and the resulting optical fiber has a poor quality. The fluorine atom content of at least 30% in the fluorine-containing polymer (I) is also essential in order to secure compatibility of the polymer with the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III) and the polyfunctional monomer (IV) containing at least two (meth)acryloyl groups in the molecule and to increase the transparency of the product (i.e., sheath material) obtained by irradiating active energy rays onto the resin composition of the invention. The use of the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (C) as components of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) is very important in increasing the transparency of the fluorine-containing polymer (I), the compatibility of the polymer with the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III) and the polyfunctional monomer (IV), the adhesion of the resulting sheath to a quartz or plastic core, and also the transparency and flexibility of the cured resin (i.e., sheath) obtained by irradiating active energy rays on the resin composition of this invention. If the fluorine-containing polymer (I) lacks the ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (C), the transparency, compatibility and adhesion of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) and the transparency of the cured resin are reduced. There is no particular limitation on the proportion of the dicarboxylic acid ester (B) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (C) to be copolymerized if the fluorine atom content of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) does not fall below 30% by weight. Preferably, it is 0.5 to 50% by weight. There is no particular limitation either on the molecular weight of the fluorine-containing polymer (I). In order to give the resin composition of the invention such as a viscosity and a levelling property as to permit coating of the composition on an optical fiber core, the polymer (I) preferably has a number average molecular weight, Mn, of 1,000 to 2,000,000. When the polymer (I) is obtained by bulk polymerization, its viscosity is preferably 1,000 to 500,000 cps at 25° C.

The fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) as a component of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) and the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) as a component of the resin composition of this invention results from bonding of a perfluoroalkyl group or partially fluorinated aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms to a (meth)acryloyl group via divalent group. Examples include compounds represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl group or partially fluorinated aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms optionally containing an oxygen atom in the main chain, for example ##STR2## R₁ is H, CH₃, Cl or F, X is a divalent bridging group such as ##STR3## in which n is an integer of 1 to 10, an R₂ is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ##STR4## and compounds having a plurality of perfluoroalkyl groups in the molecule such as compounds represented by the following gneral formula ##STR5## wherein l is an integer of 1 to 14.

Specific examples of the compound (A) or (II) are as follows. ##STR6##

Investigations of the present inventors have shown that the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) and the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) are preferably those in which the divalent bridging group X is --CH₂ --_(n) where n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 6 from the standpoint of the transparency of the resin composition of the invention after irradiation of the active energy rays, namely its optical transparency as a clad of optical fibers. With other compounds, the transmission characteristics of optical fibers produced from the resulting resin compositions tend to be reduced slightly.

The fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) (A) and the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) may each be a mixture of two or more compounds having different structures. The fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) may be the same as, or different from, the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited at all by the above-given specific examples of these compounds.

The alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B) is represented by the general formula

    R.sub.5 OOC(R.sub.3)C═C(R.sub.4)COOR.sub.6

wherein R₃ and R₄ are identical or different and each represents H, F, Cl or CH₃, R₅ and R₆ represent H, or an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and R₅ and R₆ are identical or different provided that if one of them is H, the other is other than H. When R₅ and R₆ are alkyl groups, they preferably have 3 to 8 carbon atoms from the standpoint of the compatibility of the compound (B) with the fluorine-containing (meth) acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III), and the polyfunctional monomer (IV), the transparency and amorphous nature of the fluorine-containing polymer (I), and the transparency of the cured resin obtained by irradiating the active energy rays onto the resin composition (cladding).

Specific examples of the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester (B) are given below.

b-1: diethyl fumarate

b-2: n-butyl fumarate

b-3: di-isobutyl fumarate

b-4: di-t-butyl fumarate

b-5: dipropyl fumarate

b-6: di-2-ethylhexyl fumarate

b-7: dihexyl fumarate

b-8: ethylbutyl fumarate

b-9: dibutyl maleate

b-10: dioleyl maleate

b-11: n-butyl t-butyl fumarate

b-12: ethyl isobutyl fumarate ##STR7##

Needless to say, the present invention is in no way limited by these specific examples of the compound (B).

As stated above, the mono(meth)acrylate (C) as a constituent monomer of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) is important with regard to the transparency and compatibility of the fluorine-containing polymer (I), and the transparency of the cured resin obtained by irradiating active energy rays onto the resin composition of this invention. The mono(meth)acrylate (III) is also an essential component from the standpoint of the transparency of the cured resin and its adhesion to an optical fiber core. If the composition lacks the mono(meth)acrylate, the transparency and adhesion of the cured resin becomes poor.

The mono(meth)acrylate (C) and the mono(meth)acrylate (III) are compounds represented by the following general formula ##STR8## wherein R₇ is H or CH₃, and R₈ is a group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Specific examples include n-propyl (meth)acrylate, i-propyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, i-butyl (meth)acrylate, t-butyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, octyl (meth)acrylate, decyl (meth)acrylate, isodecyl (meth)acrylate, lauryl (meth)acrylate, stearyl (meth)acrylate, isostearyl (meth)acrylate, glycerol (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate, allyl (meth)acrylate, butoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, butoxyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, N,N-diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 2-methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, methoxydiethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxydipropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, nonylphenoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, nonylphenoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, Aronix M-5700 (a product of Toa Gosei Co., Ltd.), phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, phenoxydipropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, phenoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, phosphate group-containing (meth)acrylates such as AR-260, MR-260, AR-200, MR-204 and MR-208 (products of Daihachi Chemical Co., Ltd.), Viscoat 2000 and Viscoat 2308 (products of Osaka Yuki Sha), polybutadienee (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol polybutylene glycol (meth)acrylate, polystyrylethyl (meth)acrylate, Light Ester HOA-MS and Light Ester HOMS (products of Kyoei Oils and Fats Co., Ltd.), benzyl (meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, isobornyl (meth)acrylate, methoxylated cyclodecatriene (meth)acrylate, phenyl (meth)acrylate, and FA-512A (dicyclopentenyloxyethyl acrylate) and FA-512M (dicyclopentenyloxyethyl methacrylate) (products of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.).

Needless to say, the present invention is in no way limited by these specific examples.

The mono(meth)acrylate (C) and the mono(meth)acrylate (III) may each be a mixture of two or more compounds. The mono(meth)acrylate (C) may be identical with, or different from, the mono(meth)acrylate (III).

Investigations of the present inventors have shown that preferred as the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and the mono(meth)acrylate (III) are those in which the substituent in the ester moiety has 3 to 12 carbon atoms because these compounds in small amounts increase the transparency and compatibility of the fluorine-containing polymer and the transparency of the cured resin and its adhesion to an optical fiber core. Especially preferred are those in which the substituent in the ester moiety has a cyclic structure, for example benzyl (meth)acrylate (c-1), cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate (c-2), dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate (c-3), dicyclolpentenyl (meth)acrylate (c-4), isobornyl (meth)acrylate (c-5), methoxylated cyclodecalin (meth)acrylate (c-6), phenyl (meth)acrylate (c-7) and FA-512 (c-8) and FA-512M (c-9). Above all, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate (c-3), dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate (c-4), and isobornyl (meth)acrylate (c-5) are preferred because they increase the adhesion of the cured resin to a quartz or plastic core of optical fibers.

From the standpoint of temperature stability with regard to the transparency of the cured resin (cladding) both dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate (c-4) and dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate (c-3), or both dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate (c-4 and isobornyl (meth)acrylate (c-5) are preferably included as the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (III).

In particular, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate (c-3) is a very important component which imparts dynamic strength to optical fibers to permit connection through a connector only by caulking.

The polyfunctional monomer (IV) having at least two (meth)acryloyl groups in the molecule results from bonding at least two (meth)acrylic acid moieties to a dihydric or higher alcohol by an ester linkage. It is an essential component of the resin composition of this invention in order to impart flexibility and dynamic toughness to the cured resin. Specific examples are given below.

d-1: ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-2: diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-3: triethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-4: polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate (number average molecular weight 150-1000)

d-5: propylene glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-6: dipropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-7: tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-8: polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate (number average molecular weight 200-1000)

d-9: neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate

d-10: 1,3-butanediol di(meth)acrylate

d-11: 1,4-butanediol di(meth)arcylate

d-13: hydroxypivalate neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate ##STR9## d-16: bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate d-17: trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate

d-18: pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate

d-19: dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate

d-20: pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate

d-21: trimethylolpropane di(meth)acrylate

d-22: dipentaerythritol monohydroxypenta(meth)acrylate

Other specific examples include Neomer NA-305 (d-23), Neomer BA-601 (d-24), Neomer TA-505 (d-25), Neomer TA-401 (d-26), Neomer PHA405X (d-27), Neomer EA705X (d-28), Neomer EA400X (d-29), Neomer EE401X (d-30), Neomer EP405X (d-31), Neomer HB601X (d-32) and Neomer HB605X (d-3) [products of Sanyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.]; and KAYARAD HY220 (d-34), HX-620 (d-35), D-310 (d-36), D-320 (d-37), D-330 (d-38), DPHA (d-39), DPCA-20 (d-40), DPCA-30 (d-41), DPCA-60 (d-42) and DPCA-120 (d-43) [products of Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.].

Other examples of the polyfunctional monomer (IV) are compounds represented by the general formula ##STR10## wherein x is an integer of 1 or 2, y is an integer of 4 to 12, R₇ is H, CH₃ Cl or F.

Specific examples include the following. ##STR11##

Investigations of the present inventors have shown that from the standpoint of the transparency of the cured resin, the polyfunctional monomers (IV) preferably have a methyl group in the molecule, and compounds d-5, d-6, d-7, d-8, d-9, d-13, d-14, d-15, d-17, d-21, d-23 and d-25 are especially preferred. The polyfunctional monomer (IV) may be a mixture of two or more compounds having different structures.

Needless to say, the present invention are not limited at all by the above specific examples.

The proportions of the fluorine-containing polymer (I), the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III) and the polyfunctional monomer (IV) in the resin composition of this invention may be selected according to the desired viscosity and refractive index. The present inventors have found however that the preferred weight ratios are

(III):(IV)=1:1000 to 95:5,

(II):(III)+(IV)=50:50 to 1000:1,

(I):(II)+(III)+(IV)=1:99 to 10000:1,

and the more preferred weight ratios are

(III):(IV)=1:1000 to 5:1,

(II):(III)+(IV)=50:50 to 100:1,

(I):(II)+(III)+(IV)=1:9 to 9:1.

The fluorine-containing polymer (I) in accordance with this invention is produced by a polymerization method known in the art, such as radical polymerization or anionic polymerization using heat, light, electron beams, or ionizing radiations as a polymerization initiating energy. Industrially, the radical polymerization using heat and/or light as the polymerization initiating energy is preferred. The polymerization may be carried out in bulk or solution. When heat is utilized as the polymerization initiating energy, the polymerization is performed in the absence of a catalyst or in the presence of a polymerization initiator such as azobisbutyronitrile, benzoyl peroxide or methyl ethyl ketone peroxide-cobalt naphthenate. When light such as ultraviolet light is utilized, the polymerization may be expedited by using a so-called photopolymerization initiator known in the art (for example compounds shown in VI-1 to 11 hereinbelow) and as required a light sensitizer such as an amine compound or a phosphorous compound. In the radical polymerization, the degree of polymerization of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) may by adjusted by using a mercapto group-containing chain transfer agent such as laurylmercaptan, octyl thioglycollate, gamma-mercaptoproplytrimethoxysilane or C₈ F₁₇ CH₂ CH₂ SH as required. When the polymerization is carried out by using electron beams or ionizing radiation, the addition of the polymerization initiator is not particularly required. When the fluorine-containing polymer (I) is to be prepared by solution polymerization, any solvent can be used which does not adversely affect the polymerization reaction.

When in the resin composition of this invention, the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) and the mono(meth)acrylate (B) as components of the fluorine-containing polymer (I) are respectively the same as the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) and the mono(meth)acrylate (II) as components of the resin composition, the resin composition of this invention can be obtained simply by stopping the polymerization of forming the fluorine-containing polymer (I) at a stage where the unreacted fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) and the mono(meth)acrylate (B) remain, and thereafter adding a predetermined amount of the polyfunctional monomer (IV).

The resin composition of this invention may, as required, contain various additives (V) and a photopolymerization initiator (VI) in addition to the fluorine-containing polymer (I), the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III) and the polyfunctional monomer (IV) as essential components.

Examples of the additives (V) include a solvent for viscosity adjustment, a light stabilizer, a coloring agent, a coupling agent for increasing the adhesion of the composition to an optical fiber core, a defoamer, a levelling agent and a surface-active agent for uniformly coating the composition on a core, and a surface-modifying agent for controlling the adhesion of the optical fiber to a primary coating agent.

Examples of the coupling agent are silane-type compounds, titanium-type compounds and zircoaluminates. Especially preferred are silanes such as dimethyldimethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, dimethylvinylmethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-chloropropylmethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-methacryloxypropylmethoxysilane, gamma-methacryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane, gamma-acryloxypropylmethyltrimethoxysilane, and gamma-acryloxypropylmethyldimethoxysilane.

The defoamer, levelling agent and surface-active agent are preferably those containing fluorine.

When it is desired to decrease the refractive index of the resin obtained by curing the resin composition of this invention with active energy rays, increase its transparency and to plasticize it, it is possible to use a non-polymerizable fluorine compound as the additive (V) in addition to the above-exemplified additives. Examples of the non-polymerizable fluorine compound are fluorinated alcohols of the formula HO--CH₂ --_(r) C_(s) F_(2s+1) in which r is an integer of 1 to 4 and s is an integer of 1 to 20, fluorinated carboxylic acids of the formula HOOC--CH₂ --_(t) C_(u) F_(2u+1) in which t is 0 or an integer of 1 to 4, and u is an integer of 1 to 20, fluorinated polyethers commonly called fluorine oils, and compounds commonly called fluorine-type inert liquids such as N(C₄ F₉)₃, perfluorodecalin, C₈ F₁₇ OC₄ F₉ and C₉ F₂₀. The proportion of the non-polymerizable fluorine compound in the resin composition of this invention is preferably not more than 30% by weight, more preferably not more than 20% by weight, because excessive amounts reduce the strength of the resin after curing.

A cladding film such as a sheath may be formed by coating or impregnating the resin composition of this invention on or in a substrate, particularly an optical fiber core, and then irradiating active energy rays such as light, electron beams or ionizing radiation onto the coated or impregnated substrate to polymerize and cure the resin composition. If desired, heat may also be used jointly as a source of energy. When light such as ultraviolet light is used as the active energy rays, it is preferred to use a photopolymerization initiator (IV) known in the art as a catalyst. Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include benzophenone (IV-1), acetophenone (IV-2), benzoin (IV-3), benzoin ethyl ether (IV-4), benzoin isobutyl ether (IV-5), benzyl methyl ketal (IV-6), azobisisobutyronitrile (IV-7), 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (IV-8), 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one (IV-9), 1-(4'-isopropylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one (IV-10), and 1-(4'-dodecylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-1-one (IV-11). As required, the polymerization can be expedited by adding a photosensitizer such as an amine compound or a phosphorous compound. The suitable proportion of the photopolymerization initiator in the resin composition of this invention is 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 7% by weight. When the curing is carried out by electron beams or ionizing radiation, the addition of the polymerization initiator is not particularly required.

The solvent may be incorporated in order to control the viscosity and coatability of the resin composition of this invention and the thickness of the coated film. The solvent may be any solvent which does not adversely affect the polymerizability of the resin composition of this invention. Examples of preferred solvents from the standpoint of handlability include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone; esters such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; chlorine-containing compounds such as chloroform, dichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride; and low-boiling solvents such as benzotrifluoride, chlorobenzotrifluoride, m-xylene hexafluoride, tetrachlorodifluoroethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane and trichloromonofluoromethane.

When the resin composition of this invention is coated or impregnated on or in the substrate as a solution in a solvent, a step of eliminating the solvent at room temperature or as required under heating or reduced pressure is required before the curing of the coating is started.

The resin composition of this invention may be coated by various methods known in the art, for example by brush coating, coating by an applicator, a bar coater, a roller brush or a roll coater, spraying by an air spray coater or an airless spray coater, flow coating by a shower coater or a curtain flow coater, dipping, casting, or spinner coating. Such methods are desirably selected properly depending upon the material and shape of the substrate and the use of the coated product.

Particularly, in coating the resin composition of this invention on an optical fiber core and curing it, there can be used methods known in the art, for example a method which comprises continuously dipping an optical fiber core in a reservoir containing the resin composition of this invention and pulling it up, optionally removing the solvent, and irradiating active energy rays on the coated core to cure the coating and form a clad portion; or a method which comprises continuously coating the resin composition of this invention on an optical fiber core by passing it through a coating die to which the resin composition can be continuously supplied, optionally removing the solvent, and irradiating active energy rays on the coated core to cure the coating and form a clad portion (DE-PS No. 2,459,320, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,644). When the resin composition of this invention is cured by active energy ray irradiation, there can be used ultraviolet light from a light source such as a sterilizer lamp, an ultraviolet fluorescent lamp, a carbon arc, a xenon lamp, a high-pressure mercury lamp for document reproduction, a medium or high pressure mercury lamp, a superhigh pressure mercury lamp, an electrode-free lamp, a metal halide lamp or natural light or electron beams generated by a scanning-type or curtain-type electron beam accelerator. When a coated layer having a thickness of not more than 5 micrometers is to be cured with ultraviolet light, ultraviolet irradiation is preferably carried out in an atmosphere of an inert gas such as nitrogen gas from the standpoint of the efficiency of polymerization.

The core of optical fibers in accordance with this invention may be made of quartz or a plastic such as polymethyl methacrylate, deuterated polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, polystyrene or polycarbonate.

In curing, the resin composition of this invention does not particularly require a thermal energy, and can be rapidly cured by irradiation of active energy rays. Hence, it is suitable for application to a material which is liable to undergo deformation under heat. When a heat-melted mass of a conventional thermosetting silicone resin or fluorine-containing polymer such as those described above is used in the formation of the clad portion of optical fibers, microbending may occur in the optical fibers owing to shrinkage of the clad portion after curing, and this lead to a marked transmission loss. This problem, however, is obviated when the clad portion is formed by using the resin composition of this invention. Hence, the quality and yield of the optical fibers can be increased by using the resin composition of this invention. The method of forming optical fibers in accordance with this invention has the manufacturing advantage that the drawing speed of the optical fibers becomes 3 to 6 m/sec., and the speed of production of optical fibers is 3 to 5 times as high as that in the prior art. Investigations of the present inventors have also shown that optical fibers obtained by using the resin composition of this invention have an outstandingly good adhesion between the core portion and the clad portion as compared with those of the prior art, and therefore, they have the advantage of withstanding service conditions involving vigorous vibration or bending.

A resin havinng a refractive index suitable for the intended use can be easily obtained by adjusting the proportions of the components of the resin composition of this invention. Furthermore, since a transparent resin having a refractive index of about 1.36 can be obtained, it permits the production of optical fibers having a large numerical aperture and a large diameter.

Since the resin composition of this invention can give a dynamically tough clad portion, it permits connection of plastic-clad optical fibers having a quartz core through a connector by only caulking without using an adhesive.

The resin composition of this invention can also be used to form a coating of a low refractive index on the surface of a transparent substrate such as glass or a transparent plastic material because of its low refractive index.

The resin composition of this invention may also be used as a protective coating for various materials and substrates because it gives a cured coating having excellent scratch resistance, oil resistance, smoothness, abrasion resistance, water repellence, oil repellence, water resistance, moisture resistance, corrosion resistance, antifouling property, peelability and releasability and low water absorption.

For example, it is useful as a protective coating for the surface of a nonmagnetic metal such as copper, aluminum or zinc; the surfaces of plastics, for example, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, polyolefins such as polypropylene, cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, and polycarbonate; the surfaces of ferromagnetic alloys (alloys containing iron, cobalt and/or nickel as a main component and small amounts of aluminum, silicon, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, titanium, various heavy metals or rare earth metals) vapor-deposited on glass, paper, wood, fibers, and ceramics; and the surfaces of magnetic layers of magnetic tapes or discs obtained by vapor-depositing a magnetic material such as iron, cobalt or chromium on plastic films such as a polyester films in the presence of a tiny amount of oxygen. It can also be suitably applied as a surface or back surface treating agent for magnetic recording media such as magnetic tapes or floppy discs which particularly require abrasion resistance.

The resin composition of this invention can form a transparent, smooth thin coating even on the surface of glass, and can be used in applications requiring oil resistance and wiping resistance, for example as an oil soiling preventing agent for various optical devices and instruments.

It is also suitable as a protective film or coating for solar cells, optical fibers, optical fiber cables, optical discs and optical magnetic discs which particularly require moisture resistance. Furthermore, because of its excellent scratch resistance, antifouling property and moisture resistance, it can also be used for surface protection of medical devices and instruments and of teeth and false teeth, and as a dental filler or mold.

The resin composition of this invention can also be used as a hard coating agent for various molded articles, films and sheets because it can form a coating having excellent scratch resistance.

The resin composition can be formed into a paint or ink having excellent antifouling property or non-tackiness by mixing it with a pigment or a dispersing agent.

The following Synthesis Examples and Examples illustrate the present invention more specifically. It should be understood that the invention is not limited at all by these examples. All parts and percentages in these examples are by weight.

The properties of the cured resins obtained by irradiation of active energy rays were evaluated by the following methods.

TRANSPARENCY

The resin composition of the invention was cured by using an 80 W/cm high-pressure mercury lamp. A chip having a thickness of 5 mm was prepared from the cured resin, and its light transmittance I (%) at a wavelength of 650 nm was measured. The light transmission loss was calculated in accordance with the following equation and the transparency of the cured resin was evlauated. The smaller the transmission loss, the better the transparency. ##EQU1##

ADHESION

The resin composition of this invention was coated to a cured film thickness of 100 micrometers on a plate of polymethyl methacrylate (Acrylite L-#001 made by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.; thickness 2 mm), a plate of polystyrene (Styron made by Dow Chemical Co.; thickness 2 mm) and a glass plate (thickness 5 mm). As a source of active energy rays, a high-pressure mercury lamp (160 W/cm; composed of two members of the light concentrating type), the coating were each cured at a conveyor speed of 200 m/min.

For comparison, a heat-meltable fluorine-containing resin was hot-pressed at 200° C. under 100 kg/cm² for 5 minutes to give a film having a thickness of 100 micrometers. The film was superimposed on the surface of a substrate and laminated to it at 230° C. under 5 kg/cm² for 10 seconds.

The samples were subjected to an adhesion test, and evaluated in accordance with the standards of JIS 5400.

    ______________________________________                                         Rating      State of scratch                                                   ______________________________________                                         10          Each of the scratches were slender                                             and smooth at both sides. No peeling                                           occurred in the crossing points of                                             the scratches and the cut squares.                                 8           Slight peeling occurred in the cross-                                          ing points of the scratches, but the                                           cut squares were not peeled. The                                               area of the peeled portions was less                                           than 5% of the total area of the                                               squares.                                                           6           Peeling occurred at both sides of the                                          scratches and the crossing points of                                           the scratches. The area of the                                                 peeled portions was 5 to 15% of the                                            total area of the squares.                                         4           The peel width by the scratches was                                            large, and the area of the peeled                                              portions was 15 to 35% of the total                                            area of the squares.                                               2           The peel width by the scratches was                                            larger than in the case of a rating                                            of 4, and the area of the peeled                                               portions was 35 to 65% of the total                                            area of the squares.                                               0           The area of the peeled portions was                                            more than 65% of the total area of                                             the squares.                                                       ______________________________________                                    

LIGHT TRANSMISSION PROPERTY

The light transmission property of the optical fiber was evaluated by measuring the transmission loss (dB/Km) by means of the same type of the device as shown in FIG. 4 of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7602/1983. The measuring conditions were as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Interference filter 650 micrometers                                            (dominant wavelength):                                                         Total length of the optical fiber:                                                                 5 m                                                        Cut length of the optical fiber:                                                                   4 m                                                        Bobbin diameter:     190 mm                                                    ______________________________________                                    

MANDREL TEST

To evaluate the adhesion of the cladding to an optical fiber core and its toughness, the optical fiber was wound around a mandrel having a diameter of 5 mm. The adhesion of the cladding to the optical fiber core and the occurrence of cracks in the clad portion were observed under a microscope. The results were evaluated by the following ratings.

Rating 3: No change in the adhesion between the core portion and the clad portion nor occurrence of cracks in the clad portion was observed.

Rating 2: Slight change in the adhesion between the core portion and the clad portion, and/or slight occurrence of cracks in the clad portion was observed.

Rating 1: Peeling occurred between the core portion and the clad portion, and/or cracks occurred in the clad portion.

The abbreviations used to denote compounds hereinafter are those used hereinabove. A after the abbreviations mean that the compounds are acrylates, and M after the abbreviations mean that the compunds are methacrylates.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 1

Synthesis of a-1/b-2/n-butyl acrylate=90/5/5 (%) copolymer:

A 500 ml four-necked round-bottomed flask equipped with a cooling condenser, a thermometer and a stirrer was charged with 180 g of a-1, 10 g of b-2, 10 g of n-butyl acrylate (c) and 1 g of azobisisobutyronitrile (to be referred to as AIBN hereinafter), and the mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 30 minutes in an atmosphere of N₂ gas. The mixture was further stirred for 5 minutes at 120° C., and a polymer mass which was viscous under heat was taken out.

The polymer had a molecular weight (Mn), measured by GPC (calculated for styrene), of 920,000 and contained 56.1% of fluorine atoms. In an atmosphere at 25° C., the polymer was transparent and had a refractive index n_(D) ²⁵ of 1.368.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 2

Synthesis of a-1/c-5(a)/c-4(A)=90/8/2 copolymer:

A 500 ml four-necked round-bottomed flask equipped with a cooling condenser, a thermometer and a stirrer was charged with 180 g of a-1, 18 g of c-5(a), 2 g of c-4(a) and 1 g of AIBN, and the mixture was stirred at 70° C. for 15 minutes in an atmosphere of N₂ gas. A polymer mass which was viscous under heat was taken out.

The polymer had a molecular weight (Mn), measured by GPC (calculated for styrene), of 460,000 and contained 56.1% of fluorine atoms. In an atmosphere at 25° C., the polymer was transparent and had a refractive index n_(D) ²⁵ of 1.370.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES 3-48 AND COMPARATIVE SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES 1-3

Various fluorine-containing polymers were synthesized as in Synthesis Examples 1 and 2. Table 1 summarizes the molecular weights and refractive indices of the resulting polymers.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                                 Molecular                                                                      weight                                                                         --Mn (calcu-                                                                          Fluorine                                                                            Refractive             Synthesis                                   lated for                                                                             content                                                                             index                  Example                                                                               Comonomer proportions (%)            styrene)                                                                              (%)  n.sub.D.sup.25         __________________________________________________________________________      3     a-2/b-13(m = 6)/methyltripropylene glycol acrylate                                                                  102 × 10.sup.4                                                                  56.4 1.360                         93/4/3                                                                   4     a-45/b-17(m = 8)                     126 × 10.sup.4                                                                  53.0 1.352                         90/10                                                                    5     a-1/b-14(p = 3, m = 8)/i-butyl methacrylate (C)                                                                     117 × 10 .sup.4                                                                 53.0 1.372                         8/10/5                                                                   6     a-1/b-3/polypropylene glycol monomethacrylate (molecular weight                400) (C)                             156 × 10.sup.4                                                                  31.2 1.435                         50/5/45                                                                  7     a-40/b-6/ethylcarbitol methacrylate (C)                                                                             96 × 10.sup.4                                                                   48.5 1.385                         82/5/13                                                                  8     a-41/b-18/butoxyethyl acrylate (C)   162 × 10.sup.4                                                                  51.6 1.370                         90/3/7                                                                   9     a-47/b-5/c-3(A)/c-4(A)               11 × 10.sup.4                                                                   45.5 1.404                         90/3/4/3                                                                10     a-50/b-7/methyl methacrylate (C)      7 × 10.sup.4                                                                   44.4 1.402                         84/10/6                                                                 11     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         150 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.9 1.374                         88/3/4/3/2                                                              12     a-1/b-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         147 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.9 1.374                         88/3/4/3/2                                                              13     a-1/b-6/methyl methacrylate (C)/c-5(A)                                                                              148 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.9 1.373                         88/3/7/2                                                                14     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         140 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.9 1.374                         88/3/7/1/1                                                              15     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-5(A)                145 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.9 1.375                         88/3/6/3                                                                16     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         16 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.9 1.375                         88/3/4/3/2                                                              17     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         2,600  54.9 1.374                         88/3/4/3/2                                                              18     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         137 × 10.sup.4                                                                  31.2 1.438                         50/13/17/13/7                                                           19     a-1/b-1                              103 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.9 1.376                         88/12                                                                   20     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             78 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.9 1.375                         88/5/4/3                                                                21     a-47/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)        100 × 10.sup.4                                                                  44.4 1.402                         88/3/4/3/2                                                              22     a-1/c-5(A)                           43 × 10.sup.4                                                                   56.1 1.372                         90/10                                                                   23     a-1/c-2(A)                           52 × 10.sup.4                                                                   43.7 1.407                         70/30                                                                   24     a-2/c-3(M)                           26 × 10.sup.4                                                                   57.6 1.362                         95/5                                                                    25     a-1/c-4(A)                           31 × 10.sup.4                                                                   56.1 1.373                         90/10                                                                   26     a-1/t-butyl methacrylate (C)         39 × 10.sup.4                                                                   56.1 1.373                         90/10                                                                   27     a-1/c-5(M)                           40 × 10.sup.4                                                                   31.2 1.432                         50/50                                                                   28     a-33/2-ethylhexyl acrylate (C)       19 × 10.sup.4                                                                   37.6 1.425                         60/40                                                                   29     a-26/c-1(A)/c-7(A)                   24 × 10.sup.4                                                                   40.1 1.412                         98/1/1                                                                  30     a-23/c-5(M)                          23 × 10.sup.4                                                                   44.0 1.388                         75/25                                                                   31     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             16 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.379                         87/7/2/4                                                                32     a-1/c-4(A)/c-5(A)                    20 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.379                         87/4/9                                                                  33     a-1/c-3(M)/c-5(A)                    18 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.378                         87/9/4                                                                  34     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)                    17 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.379                         87/11/2                                                                 35     a-1/c-2(A)                           15 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.379                         87/13                                                                   36     a-1/2-ethylhexyl acrylate (C)        16 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.379                         87/13                                                                   37     a-1/i-butyl acrylate (C)             14 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.377                         87/13                                                                   38     a-1/methyl methacrylate (C)          33 × 10.sup.4                                                                   54.2 1.377                         87/13                                                                   39     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             110 × 10.sup.4                                                                  54.2 1.379                         87/7/2/4                                                                40     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             4000   54.2 1.374                         87/7/2/5                                                                41     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             34 × 10.sup.4                                                                   59.2 1.366                         95/2.5/1.5/1                                                            42     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             42 × 10.sup.4                                                                   31.2 1.437                         50/25/15/10                                                             43     a-1/c-3(A)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             10 × 10.sup.4                                                                   53.6 1.379                         86/7/4/3                                                                44     a-1/c-4(A)/c-5(A)                    35 × 10.sup.4                                                                   53.0 1.377                         85/2/13                                                                 45     a-1/c-3(A)/c-4(A)                    37 × 10.sup.4                                                                   53.0 1.377                         85/13/2                                                                 46     a-1/i-propyl acrylate (C)            42 × 10.sup.                                                                    56.1 1.370                         90/10                                                                   47     a-1/polypropylene glycol methacrylate (molecular weight 1000)                                                       38 × 10.sup.4                                                                   49.9 1.385                         80/20                                                                   48     a-1/methyl methacrylate (C)          42 × 10.sup.4                                                                   56.1 1.372                         90/10                                                                   Comparison                                                                            a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)         102 × 10.sup.4                                                                  28.7 1.445                  1      46/13.5/18/13.5/9                                                       Comparison                                                                            a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)             17 × 10.sup.4                                                                   26.8 1.449                  2      43/30.7/8.8/17.5                                                        Comparison                                                                            a-1                                  40 × 10.sup.4                                                                   62.4 1.341                  __________________________________________________________________________

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 49

Synthesis of a-7/b-17/t-butyl methacrylate (c)=80/10/10 (%) copolymer:

A 500 ml four-necked round-bottomed flask equipped with a cooling condenser, a thermometer and a stirrer was charged with 80 g of a-7, 10 g of b-17, 10 g of t-butyl methacrylate (c), 1 g of laurylmercaptan, 0.3 g of AIBN and 230 g of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and in an atmosphere of N₂ gas, the mixture was reacted at 80° C. for 10 hours. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give the desired polymer. The polymer had a fluorine atom content of 47.3%, a Mn of 110,000 and a n_(D) ²⁵ of 1.371.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 50

Synthesis of a-1/c-5(A)/n-butyl acrylate (c)=90/5/5 (%) copolymer:

A 500 ml four-necked round-bottomed flask equipped with a cooling condenser, a thermometer and a stirrer was charged with 90 g of a-1, 5 g of c-5(A), 5 g of t-butyl acrylate (c), 0.5 g of octyl thioglycollate, 0.3 g of AIBN and 230 g of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and in an atmosphere of N₂ gas, the mixture was reacted at 80° C. for 10 hours. The solvent was evaporated under reducd pressure to give the desired polymer. The polymer had a fluorine atom content of 56.1%, a Mn of 120,000 and a n_(D) ²⁵ of 1.373.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES 51-56

Various fluorine-containing polymers were synthesized as in Synthesis Examples 49 and 50. Table 2 summarizes the molecular weights and refractive indices of these polymers.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________                              Molecular                                                                      weight                                                                         --Mn (calcu-                                                                         Fluorine                                                                            Refractive                                 Synthesis                lated for                                                                            content                                                                             index                                      Example                                                                             Comonomer proportions (%)                                                                          styrene)                                                                             (%)  n.sub.D.sup.25                             __________________________________________________________________________     51   a-27/b-2            8.5 × 10.sup.4                                                                 36.9 1.415                                           97/3                                                                      52   a-47/b-15(m = 6)/i-butyl methacrylate                                                              14 × 10.sup.4                                                                  45.5 1.395                                           90/4/6                                                                    53   a-39/b-18           9.2 × 10.sup.4                                                                 46.5 1.335                                           96/4                                                                      54   a-l/c-4(M)/2-hydroxypropyl acrylate (C)                                                             8 × 10.sup.4                                                                  49.9 1.386                                           80/13/7                                                                   55   a-11/c-6(A)         13 × 10.sup.4                                                                  48.2 1.400                                           70/30                                                                     56   a-1/ethylacrylate (C)                                                                               9 × 10.sup.4                                                                  49.9 1.389                                           80/20                                                                     __________________________________________________________________________

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 57

Synthesis of a-1/neopentyl glycol monomethacrylate (c)=95/5 (%) copolymer:

A 500 ml glass cylindrical flask equipped with a stirrer was charged with 380 g of a-1, 20 g of neopentyl glycol monomethacrylate (c), 2 g of octyl thioglycollate, and 12 g of VI-9 as a photopolymerization initiator, and with stirring at 60 ° C., two 60 W fluorescent lamps for ultraviolet light were irradiated from the sides of the flask and the reaction was carried out for 1 hour. By this operation, a viscous polymer having a viscosity of 200 poises at 60° C. was obtained. The polymer had a molecular weight (Mn), determined by GPC, of 8,000 and a fluorine atom content of 59.2%. The amount of the unreacted monomers determined by gas chromatography was 24% based on the total weight of the polymer. The refractive index n_(D) ²⁵ of the polymer was 1.352.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLE 58

A 500 ml glass cylindrical flask equipped with a stirrer was charged with 372 g of a-1, 28 g of c-3 (M), and 0.72 g of VI-9 as a photopolymerization initiator, and with stirring at 60° C., one 60 W fluorescent lamp for ultraviolet light was irradiated from the sides of the flask and the reaction was carried out for 16 seconds. By this operation, a viscous polymer having a viscosity of 10,000 centipoises at 50° C. was obtained. The polymer was transparent in an atmosphere at 25° C., and had a fluorine atom content of 58.0%, a molecular weight (Mn), determined by GPC, of 36,000 and a refractive index n_(D) ²⁵ of 1.365. The amount of the unreacted monomers determined by gas chromatography was 17% based on the total weight of the polymer.

SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES 59-81 AND COMPARATIVE SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES 4-6

Fluorine-containing polymers were synthesized as in Synthesis Example 58. The results are summarized in Table 3.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                                             Amount                                                                         of the                                                                   Irradiation                                                                          unreacted                                                                             Viscosity                                                                           Refractive                                                                           Flourine             Synthesis                         time  monomers                                                                              (cps/                                                                               index content              Example                                                                               Comonomer proportions (%)  (sec) (%)    25° C.)                                                                      n.sub.D .sup.25                                                                      (%)                  __________________________________________________________________________     59     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/C-5(A)                                                                              12    20     13,000                                                                              1,374 54.9                        88/3/4/3/2                                                              60     a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/C-5(A)                                                                               7    44     6,800                                                                               1.373 54.9                        88/3/4/3/2                                                              61     a-10/b-9/c-4(A)             9    23     10,000                                                                              1.430 32.2                        53/7/40                                                                 62     a-2/b-13(m = 6)/methyltripropylene glycol acrylate                                                        16)    9     28,000                                                                              1.361 56.5                        93/4/3                                                                  63     a-1/b-1                    14    33     9,900                                                                               1.376 54.9                        88/12                                                                   64     a-1/c-3(M)                 10    29     6,000                                                                               1.365 58.0                        93/7                                                                    65     a-1/c-5(A)/c-4(A)          16    13     8,700                                                                               1.369 56.1                        90/9/1                                                                  66     a-38/c-3(A)/c-4(M)          8    36     5,700                                                                               1.368 55.5                        80/17/3                                                                 67     a-1/t-butyl methacrylate (C)/c-4(A)                                                                       80     3     480,000                                                                             1.418 37.4                        60/36/4                                                                 68     a-1/c-7(A)/c-4(A)           5    42     2,000                                                                               1.362 59.2                        95/3/2                                                                  69     a-1/c-5(M)/c-4(M)           7    38     3,600                                                                               1.377 53.0                        85/10/5                                                                 70     a-2/c-5(A)/c-4(A)          10    27     5,800                                                                               1.370 54.6                        90/7/3                                                                  71     a-1/ethyl acrylate (C)     30    15     290,000                                                                             1.371 56.1                        90/10                                                                   72     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)   20    23     12,000                                                                              1.379 54.3                        87/7/2/4                                                                73     a-1/c-3(A)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)    9    21     14,000                                                                              1.379 54.3                        87/7/2/4                                                                74     a-1/c-3(M)/c-5(A)          20    26     10,700                                                                              1.378 54.3                        87/9/4                                                                  75     a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)    4    48     3,600                                                                               1.378 54.3                        87/7/2/4                                                                76     a-1/2-ethylhexyl acrylate (C)                                                                             18    19     14,800                                                                              1.379 54.3                        87/13                                                                   77     a-1/i-butyl acrylate (C)   15    21     13,000                                                                              1.378 54.3                        87/13                                                                   78     a-1/methyl methacrylate (C)                                                                               49    22     9,800                                                                               1.378 54.3                        87/13                                                                   79     a-1/c-3(A)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)   13    31     7,600                                                                               1.378 53.6                        86/7/4/3                                                                80     a-1/c-4(A)/c-5(A)          10    27     11,000                                                                              1.377 53.0                        85/2/13                                                                 81     a-1/c-3(A)/c-4(A)           8    29     11,500                                                                              1.377 53.0                        85/13/2                                                                 Comparison                                                                            a-1/b-6/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)                                                                              22    28     8,700                                                                               1.442 28.7                 4      46/13.5/18/13.5/9                                                       Comparison                                                                            a-1/c-3(M)/c-4(A)/c-5(A)   19    35     7,000                                                                               1.447 26.8                 5      43/30.7/8.8/17.5                                                        Comparison                                                                            a-1                        11    44     5,900                                                                               1.340 62.4                 __________________________________________________________________________

As shown in Synthesis Examples 59 to 81, the fluorine-containing polymer (I) of this invention can be efficiently produced also by the photopolymerization method. The fluorine-containing polymers could be obtained by using a 15 W white-color fluorescent lamp or solar light instead of the 80 SW/cm high-pressure mercury lamp.

EXAMPLES 1-59 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1-16

In each run, an active energy ray-curable resin composition (Examples 1 to 59 and Comparative Examples 1 to 13) was prepared from each of the fluorine-containing polymers (I) obtained in Synthesis Examples 1 to 81 and Comparative Synthesis Examples 1 to 6, a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), a mono(meth)acrylate (III), a polyfunctional monomer (IV), an additive (V) and a photopolymerization initiator (VI). Details of the resulting resin compositions are shown in Table 4-1. Table 4-2 summarizes the adhesion of the resin compositions to a polymethyl methacrylate plate, a polystyrene plate and a glass plate, and their various properties as optical fiber cladding.

For comparison, similar data obtained by using known resins (Comparative Examples 14 to 16) are shown in Table 5.

In Examples 1 to 59 and Comparative Examples 1 to 13, an optical fiber was formed by continuously dipping an optical fiber core in a bath of the resin composition, pulling it up continuously, and irradiating ultraviolet light from three 160 W/cm high-pressure mercury lamps of the light converging type at a drawing speed of 300 m/min.

Optical fibers used in Comparative Examples 14 and 15 were formed by coating optical fiber cores with the fluorine-containing polymers melted at the temperatures indicated in Table 5, and cooling the coatings in air.

The silicone resin shown in Comparative Example 16 was cured at 150° C. for 1 minute. The drawing speed of the optical fibers at this time was 5 m/min.

Optical fibers having cores of polymethyl methacrylate or polystyrene were produced in a core diameter of 500 micrometers and a cladding thickness of 40 micrometers. Optical fibers having a core of quartz were produced in a core diameter of 250 micrometers and a cladding thickness of 30 micrometers.

In the following tables the following abbreviations are used.

RM: an optical fiber having a core of polymethyl methacrylate

PS: an optical fiber having a core of polystyrene

G: an optical fiber having a core of quartz

It is seen from Tables 4-1, 4-2 and 5 that the active energy ray-curable resin compositions of this invention can give much better optical fibers than can conventional cladding materials. It is particularly noted from Comparative Examples 10 to 13 that the fluorine-containing polymers in accordance with this invention are essential components in obtaining optical fibers of good quality.

It has been found in accordance with this invention that an optical fiber composed of a core of quartz and a cladding of the resin composition of this invention (plastic-clad fiber abbreviated as PCF) has high dynamic strength and permits better connection by caulking (without using an adhesive) through a connector than conventional PCF. PCFs formed from the resin compositions containing dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate (c-3) as the mono(meth)acrylate (III) (Examples 14, 35, 37 and 39) showed particularly good caulking properties.

                                      TABLE 4-1                                    __________________________________________________________________________            Active energy ray-curable resin composition                                    I      II   III    IV    V      VI  Viscosity                                                                              log(I.sub.o /I)                                                                     Refractive                    (parts)                                                                               (parts)                                                                             (parts)                                                                               (parts)                                                                              (parts)                                                                               (parts)                                                                            (cps/25° C.)                                                                    (dB/Km)                                                                             index                                                                          n.sub.D.sup.25         __________________________________________________________________________     Example 1                                                                             Compound of                                                                           a-1  n-butyl                                                                               d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               8500    24000                                                                               1.362                         Synthesis                                                                             45   acrylate (C)                                                                           1           4                                              Example 1   5                                                                  50                                                                      Example 2                                                                             Compound of                                                                           a-2  i-butyl                                                                               d-21(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               7200    23000                                                                               1.359                         Synthesis                                                                             50   acrylate (C)                                                                           5           3                                              Example 1   2                                                                  40                                                                      Example 3                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-27                                                                               --     poly- MEGAFAC                                                                               VI-9                                                                               8800    25000                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             30          propylene                                                                            F-177(*)                                              Example 1          glycol                                                                               5      3                                              60                 dimeth-                                                                        acrylate                                                                       (molecular                                                                     weight                                                                         400) (d)                                                                        5                                                   Example 4                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-47                                                                               --     d-15(A)                                                                              --      VI-10                                                                             3600    27000                                                                               1.357                         Synthesis                                                                             20          10           4                                              Example 3                                                                              a-23                                                                   30     40                                                               Example 5                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-47                                                                               c-4(A) d-15(A)                                                                              --      VI-10                                                                             3500    22000                                                                               1.359                         Synthesis                                                                             20   5      10           4                                              Example 3                                                                              a-23                                                                   30     40                                                               Example 6                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-47                                                                               C-4(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-10                                                                             3500    21000                                                                               1.358                         Synthesis                                                                             20   5      10           4                                              Example 3                                                                              a-23                                                                   30     40                                                               Example 7                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-41                                                                               t-butyl                                                                               d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-11                                                                             4200    23000                                                                               1.380                         Synthesis                                                                             50   acrylate (C)                                                                           5           5                                              Example 8                                                                             5                                                                       40                                                                      Example 8                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-41                                                                               c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-11                                                                             4200    20100                                                                               1.380                         Synthesis                                                                             50   5       5           5                                              Example 8                                                                      40                                                                      Example 9                                                                             Compound of                                                                            a-41                                                                               c-5(A) 1,6-  --      VI-11                                                                             4200    40000                                                                               1.380                         Synthesis                                                                             50   5      hexanediol   5                                              Example 8          diacrylate                                                  40                  5.sup.(d)                                           Example 10                                                                            Compound of                                                                            a-41                                                                               ethyl  d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-11                                                                             4400    47000                                                                               1.382                         Synthesis                                                                             50   acrylate (C)                                                                           5           5                                              Example 8   5                                                                  40                                                                      Example 11                                                                            Compound of                                                                            a-41                                                                               2-ethylhexyl                                                                          d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-11                                                                             4400    23000                                                                               1.380                         Synthesis                                                                             50   acrylate (C)                                                                           5           5                                              Example 8   5                                                                  40                                                                      Example 12                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  neopentyl                                                                             d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               4400    22900                                                                               1.349                         Synthesis                                                                               47.5                                                                              glycol              4                                              Example 51  monometh-                                                          50          acrylate (C)                                                                     2.5                                                       Example 13                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               4800    19000                                                                               1.369                         Synthesis                                                                             25   1       5             0.5                                          Example 11  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                     60          4      5                                                    Example 14                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               4900    18700                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   1       5             0.5                                          Example 11  c-3(A) d-17(A)                                                     60          4       5                                                   Example 15                                                                            Compound of                                                                            a-47                                                                               c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               5200    21600                                                                               1.371                         Synthesis                                                                             25   1       5             0.5                                          Example 11  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                     60          4       5                                                   Example 16                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  ethyl  d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4200    23000                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   acrylate (C)                                                                          10           3                                              Example 11  5                                                                  60                                                                      Example 17                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  i-butyl                                                                               d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4500    22000                                                                               1.369                         Synthesis                                                                             25   acrylate (C)                                                                          10           3                                              Example 11  5                                                                  60                                                                      Example 18                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4600    21300                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 11                                                                     60                                                                      Example 19                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-20(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5100    29000                                                                               1.371                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 11                                                                     60                                                                      Example 20                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4700    23000                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 12                                                                     60                                                                      Example 21                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4600    26000                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 13                                                                     60                                                                      Example 22                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4800    24000                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 15                                                                     60                                                                      Example 23                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                                720    19000                                                                               1.369                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 17                                                                     60                                                                      Example 24                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5200    20000                                                                               1.425                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 18                                                                     60                                                                      Example 25                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5600    29000                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 19                                                                     60                                                                      Example 26                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-44(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4400    18500                                                                               1.369                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 20                                                                     60                                                                      Example 27                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-44(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               6000    30000                                                                               1.397                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 21                                                                     60                                                                      Example 28                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-44(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               7200    18000                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 59                                                                     60                                                                      Example 29                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-44(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               2700    17800                                                                               1.369                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 60                                                                     60                                                                      Example 30                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               8700    20500                                                                               1.371                         Synthesis                                                                             52   4       4           3                                              Example 2                                                                      40                                                                      Example 31                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-9(A)                                               mer-   VI-9   8700 21500  1.372 γ                                               Synthesis                                                                             52   4       4    capto- 3                                              Example 2                propyl                                                40                       trimeth-                                                                       oxy-                                                                           silane                                                                         0.3                                            Example 32                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               6100    19000                                                                               1.371                         Synthesis                                                                             52   11      4           3                                              Example 2                                                                             52   c-4(A)                                                             30          3                                                           Example 33                                                                            Compound of                                                                            a-33                                                                               c-5(A) d-6(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               9000    22000                                                                               1.377                         Synthesis                                                                             20   6       4           3                                              Example 22                                                                     70                                                                      Example 34                                                                            Compound of                                                                            a-33                                                                               c-5(A) d-6(A)                                               chloro-                         γ                                               VI-9   9000 22500  1.378                                                       Synthesis                                                                             20   6       4    propyl 3                                              Example 22               trimeth-                                              70                       oxy-                                                                           silane                                                                         0.2                                            Example 35                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-3(M) d-17(A)                                                                              γ-meth-                                                                          VI-10                                                                             3500    26000                                                                               1.372                         Synthesis                                                                             72   4       4    acrylo-                                                                               3                                              Example 26               yl-                                                   20                       propyl                                                                         trimeth-                                                                       oxy                                                                            silane                                                                         0.2                                            Example 36                                                                            Compound of                                                                             a-23                                                                              c-5(A) d-6(M)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               4000    25500                                                                               1.383                         Synthesis                                                                             30   7       3           4                                              Example 50  c-4(M)                                                             50          10                                                          Example 37                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-3(M) d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-10                                                                             3500    20500                                                                               1.372                         Synthesis                                                                             72   4       4           3                                              Example 25                                                                     20                                                                      Example 38                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               4900    19000                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   1      5              0.5                                          Example 31  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                     60          4       5                                                   Example 39                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               5300    18800                                                                               1.374                         Synthesis                                                                             25   1      5              0.5                                          Example 31  c-3(A) d-17(A)                                                     60          4       5                                                   Example 40                                                                            Compound of                                                                            a-47                                                                               c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               6000    22200                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   1       5             0.5                                          Example 31  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                     60          4       5                                                   Example 41                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  ethyl  d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4400    24000                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   acrylate                                                                              10           3                                              Example 31  5                                                                  60                                                                      Example 42                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  i-butyl                                                                               d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4700    21100                                                                               1.372                         Synthesis                                                                             25   acrylate(C)                                                                           10           3                                              Example 31  5                                                                  60                                                                      Example 43                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4600    20800                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 31                                                                     60                                                                      Example 44                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-20(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4900    30000                                                                               1.374                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 31                                                                     60                                                                      Example 45                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5300    20500                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 32                                                                     60                                                                      Example 46                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4600    22000                                                                               1.374                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 33                                                                     60                                                                      Example 47                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4200    23900                                                                               1.374                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 35                                                                     60                                                                      Example 48                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4100    25000                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 37                                                                     60                                                                      Example 49                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5700    31000                                                                               1.375                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 38                                                                     60                                                                      Example 50                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                                330    18800                                                                               1.372                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 40                                                                     60                                                                      Example 51                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               6200    19900                                                                               1.432                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 42                                                                     60                                                                      Example 52                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               4200    18600                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             20   2       5             0.2                                          Example 65  c-5(A)                                                             70          3                                                           Example 53                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-4(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               87000   25600                                                                               1.370                         Synthesis                                                                             20   2       5             0.2                                          Example 71  c-5(A)                                                             70          3                                                           Example 54                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5900    16000                                                                               1.373                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 72                                                                     60                                                                      Example 55                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4800    21600                                                                               1.380                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 74                                                                     60                                                                      Example 56                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               1420    18200                                                                               1.376                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 75                                                                     60                                                                      Example 57                                                                            Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               7100    38000                                                                               1.376                         Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                                              Example 78                                                                     60                                                                      Example 58                                                                            Reaction product of                                                                               d-17(A)                                                                              --      VI-10                                                                             6100    18900                                                                               1.384                         Synthesis Example 60                                                                              10             0.2                                          90                                                                      Example 59                                                                            Reaction product of                                                                               d-9(A)                                                                               --      VI-10                                                                             3200    18100                                                                               1.382                         Synthesis Example 75                                                                              10             0.2                                          90                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           --   --     d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               10000   .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 1                                                                             Synthesis          40           3                impossible                    Example 1                                        (whitened)                    60                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           --   --     d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               16000   .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 2                                                                             Synthesis          40           3                impossible                    Example 2                                        (whitened)                    60                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               9700    78000                                                                               measurement            Example 3                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                impossible                    Comparative                                      (whitened)                    Example 1                                                                      60                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4200    .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 4                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                impossible                    Comparative                                      (whitened)                    Example 2                                                                      60                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               8400    49000                                                                               measurement            Example 5                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             52   4       4           3                impossible                    Example 48                                       (whitened)                    40                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               7700    .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 6                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             52   4      4            3                impossible                    Comparative                                      (whitened)                    Example 3                                                                      40                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               5500    .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 7                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                impossible                    Comparative                                      (whitened)                    Example 4                                                                      60                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                               4100    .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 8                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             25   5      10           3                impossible                    Comparative                                      (whitened)                    Example 5                                                                      60                                                                      Comparative                                                                           Compound of                                                                           a-1  c-5(A) d-9(A)                                                                               --     VI-9                                                                               3000    .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 9                                                                             Synthesis                                                                             40   4       4           3                impossible                    Example 6   c-4(A)                               (whitened)                    50          2                                                           Comparative                                                                           --     a-1  c-5(A) d-17(A)                                                                              --     VI-9                                                                                26     12000                                                                               1.388                  Example 10    75   15     10           3                                       Comparative                                                                           --     a-31 --     d-17(A)                                                                              tri-   VI-9                                                                                33     .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 11      75.6        11.7                                                                               methylol                impossible                                             propane                                                                               6.9              (whitened)                                             tris(3-                                                                        mercapto                                                                       pro-                                                                           pionate                                                                        5.8                                            Comparative                                                                           --     a-35 --     d-17(A)                                                                              γ-mer-                                                                          VI-9                                                                                43     .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 12      75.6        11.7                                                                               capto-    7.0           impossible                                             propyl                  (whitened)                                             tri-                                                                           methoxy-                                                                       silane                                                                         5.8                                            Comparative                                                                           --     a-35 --     d-17(A)                                                                              γ-mer-                                                                          VI-9                                                                                44     .sup.  >10.sup.5                                                                    measurement            Example 13      72.1        23.3                                                                               capto-   0.9            impossible                                             propyl                  (whitened)                                             tri-                                                                           methoxy-                                                                       silane                                                                         3.3                                            __________________________________________________________________________      *flourine-type surfactant produced by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.  

                  TABLE 4-2                                                        ______________________________________                                                               Optical                                                  Adhesiveness          transmission fiber                                       Polymethyl                         Trans-                                      meth-         Poly-                mission                                                                               Man-                                 acrylate      styrene Glass        loss   drel                                 plate         plate   plate   Type (dB/Km)                                                                               test                                 ______________________________________                                         Example 1                                                                              10        10      10    PM   1160   3                                                                  G      8    3                                  Example 2                                                                              10        10       8    PM   1040   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 3                                                                               8         8       8    PM   1024   3                                                                  PS   1280   3                                                                  G      8    2                                  Example 4                                                                              10         8       8    PM   1260   3                                                                  G     10    2                                  Example 5                                                                              10        10       8    PM   1100   3                                                                  G      8    3                                  Example 6                                                                              10        10      10    PM   1020   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 7                                                                              10        10      10    PM   1140   3                                                                  PS   1240   3                                                                  G     10    3                                  Example 8                                                                              10        10      10    PM   1020   3                                                                  PS   1140   3                                                                  G      8    3                                  Example 9                                                                               8         8       8    PM   1780   2                                                                  PS   1870   2                                                                  G     17    2                                  Example 10                                                                              8         8       8    PM   2070   2                                                                  PS   2460   2                                                                  G     25    2                                  Example 11                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1000   3                                                                  PS   1080   3                                                                  G     10    3                                  Example 12                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1020   3                                                                  PS   1160   3                                                                  G     10    3                                  Example 13                                                                             10        10      10    PM    930   3                                                                  PS   1000   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 14                                                                             10        10      10    PM    920   3                                                                  PS   1010   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 15                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1000   3                                                                  PS   1050   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 16                                                                             10        10       8    PM    990   3                                                                  PS   1120   3                                                                  G      9    3                                  Example 17                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1030   3                                                                  PS   1220   3                                                                  G      8    3                                  Example 18                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1000   3                                                                  PS   1200   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 19                                                                              8         8       8    PM   1200   3                                                                  PS   1420   3                                                                  G     37    3                                  Example 20                                                                             10        10       8    PM    970   3                                                                  PS   1070   3                                                                  G     11    3                                  Example 21                                                                              8         8       8    PM   1100   3                                                                  PS   1330   3                                                                  G     20    2                                  Example 22                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1140   3                                                                  PS   1270   3                                                                  G     15    3                                  Example 23                                                                             10        10      10    PM    980   3                                                                  PS   1010   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 24                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1000   3                                                                  PS   1110   3                                                                  G      6    3                                  Example 25                                                                              8         8       8    PM   1320   2                                                                  PS   1560   2                                                                  G     40    2                                  Example 26                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1020   3                                                                  PS   1110   3                                                                  G      5    3                                  Example 27                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1460   3                                                                  PS   1700   3                                                                  G     44    3                                  Example 28                                                                             10        10      10    PM    920   3                                                                  PS    980   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 29                                                                             10        10      10    PM    900   3                                                                  PS    980   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 30                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1150   3                                                                  PS   1150   3                                                                  G     10    3                                  Example 31                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1160   3                                                                  PS   1240   3                                                                  G      6    3                                  Example 32                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1010   3                                                                  PS   1130   3                                                                  G      5    3                                  Example 33                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1290   3                                                                  PS   1430   3                                                                  G     10    2                                  Example 34                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1310   3                                                                  PS   1400   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 35                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1320   3                                                                  PS   1440   3                                                                  G     15    3                                  Example 36                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1360   3                                                                  PS                                                                             G      10   2                                  Example 37                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1000   3                                                                  PS   1100   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 38                                                                             10        10      10    PM    940   3                                                                  PS    990   3                                                                  G      5    3                                  Example 39                                                                             10        10      10    PM    980   3                                                                  PS   1010   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 40                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1100   3                                                                  PS   1150   3                                                                  G      8    3                                  Example 41                                                                             10         8       8    PM   1120   3                                                                  PS   1290   3                                                                  G      8    2                                  Example 42                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1100   3                                                                  PS   1120   3                                                                  G      7    2                                  Example 43                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1050   3                                                                  PS   1090   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 44                                                                              8         8       8    PM   1430   3                                                                  PS   1500   3                                                                  G     37    3                                  Example 45                                                                             10        10      10    PM    990   3                                                                  PS   1000   3                                                                  G      5    3                                  Example 46                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1090   3                                                                  PS   1170   3                                                                  G      8    3                                  Example 47                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1200   3                                                                  PS   1370   3                                                                  G     10    2                                  Example 48                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1370   3                                                                  PS   1410   3                                                                  G     13    2                                  Example 49                                                                             10         8       8    PM   1560   3                                                                  PS   1770   2                                                                  G     43    2                                  Example 50                                                                             10        10      10    PM    930   3                                                                  PS    990   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 51                                                                             10        10      10    PM    970   3                                                                  PS   1020   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 52                                                                             10        10      10    PM    900   3                                                                  PS    930   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 53                                                                             10        10       8    PM   1340   3                                                                  PS   1470   3                                                                  G     13    2                                  Example 54                                                                             10        10      10    PM    880   3                                                                  PS    910   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 55                                                                             10        10      10    PM   1010   3                                                                  PS   1110   3                                                                  G      7    3                                  Example 56                                                                             10        10      10    PM    880   3                                                                  PS    920   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Example 57                                                                              8         8       8    PM   4000   2                                                                  PS   4400   2                                                                  G     78    2                                  Example 58                                                                             10        10      10    PM    910   3                                                                  PS    970   3                                                                  G      5    3                                  Example 59                                                                             10        10      10    PM    890   3                                                                  PS    900   3                                                                  G      4    3                                  Compar-  4         4       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 1                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 2                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 3                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 4                       G    > 5000 1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   4000   1                                  ative                           PS   4100   1                                  Example 5                       G     113   1                                  Compar-  4         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 6                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 7                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 8                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 9                       G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 10                      G    >5000  1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   > 5000 1                                  Example 11                      G     440   1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 12                      G     880   1                                  Compar-  2         2       2    PM   >5000  1                                  ative                           PS   >5000  1                                  Example 13                      G     930   1                                  ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________                          Refrac-                                                                            Adhesiveness   Optical transmission fiber             Com-                 tive                                                                               Polymethyl                                                                            Poly-      Transmission                        parative             index                                                                              methacrylate                                                                          styrene                                                                            Glass  loss   Mandrel                      Example                                                                             Cladding material                                                                              n.sub.D.sup.25                                                                     plate  plate                                                                              plate                                                                              Type                                                                              (dB/Km)                                                                               test                         __________________________________________________________________________     14   tetrafluoroethylene/                                                                           1.345                                                                              4      4   2   PM 2640   1                                 hexafluoropropylene copolymer      PS 3880   1                                 (melting temperature 325° C.)                                                                              G   88    1                            15   bulk-polymerized product                                                                       1.392                                                                              6      4   0   PM 2480   1                                 of a-22                            PS 2920   1                                 (melting temperature 130° C.)                                                                              G   75    1                            16   Thermosetting silicone resin                                                                   1.401                                                                              4      4   0   PM 3480   1                                                                    PS 3800   1                                                                    G   10    1                            __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An active energy ray-curable resin composition which gives a cured product having a refractive index of not more than 1.44, said composition comprising (I) a fluorine-containing polymer composed of (A) a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate, and at least one of (B) an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester, and (C) a non-fluorine-containing mono(meth)acrylate, and having a fluorine atom content of at least 30% by weight, (II) a fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate, (III) a non-fluorine-containing mono(meth)acrylate and (IV) a polyfunctional monomer containing at least two (meth)acryloyl groups in the molecule.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) and the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) are compounds represented by the general formula ##STR12## wherein Rf represents a fluorinated aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X represents a divalent linking group, and R₁ represents H, CH₃, Cl or F.
 3. The composition of claim 2 wherein X is --CH₂ --_(n) where n is 0 or an integer of 1 to
 6. 4. The composition of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer (I) is composed of (A) and (B) or (A) and (B) and (C) wherein the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B) is a compound represented by the general formula ##STR13## wherein R₃ and R₄ are identical or different and each represents H, F, Cl or CH₃, and R₅ and R₆ each represent H or an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and R₅ and R₆ are identical or different, and when either one of them is H, the other is other than H.
 5. The composition of claim 4 wherein R₅ and R₆ are alkyl groups having 3 to 8 carbon atoms.
 6. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the fluorine containing polymer (I) is composed of (A) and (C) or (A) and (B) and (C) wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and the mono(meth)acrylate (II) are mono(meth)acrylate compounds having a substituent with 3 to 12 carbon atoms at the ester moiety.
 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the substituent in the ester moiety of the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and the mono(meth)acrylate (III) has a cylic structure.
 8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (III) is isobornyl (meth)acrylate.
 9. The composition of claim 7 wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (III) is dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate.
 10. The composition of claim 7 wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (III) is a combination of isobornyl (meth)acrylate and dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate.
 11. The composition of claim 7 wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (III) is dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate.
 12. The composition of claim 7 wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and/or the mono(meth)acrylate (III) is a combination of dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate and dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate.
 13. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the polyfunctional monomer (IV) is a compound havng a methyl group in the molecule.
 14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer (I) is composed of the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A), the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B) and the mono(meth)acrylate (C).
 15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B) is a compound represented by the general formula ##STR14## Wherein R₃ and R₄ are identical or different and each represents H, F, Cl or CH₃, and R₅ and R₆ each represent H or an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and R₅ and R₆ are identical or different, and when either one of them is H, the other is other than H; and wherein the mono(meth)acrylate (C) is a mono(meth)acrylate compound having a substituent with 3 to 12 carbon atoms at the ester moiety.
 16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (A) and the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II) are compounds represented by the general formula ##STR15## Wherein Rf represents a fluorinated aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, X represents a divalent linking group, and R₁ represents H, CH₃, Cl or F.
 17. The composition of claim 16 wherein at least one of the mono(meth)acrylate (C) and the mono(meth)acrylate (III) is a mono(meth)acrylate with a cyclic structure selected from the group consisting of isobornyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate) and mixtures thereof.
 18. The composition of claim 17 wherein the polyfunctional monomer (IV) is a compound having a methyl group in the molecule.
 19. The composition of claim 1 which gives a cured product having a refractive index of about 1.36.
 20. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer contains from 0.5 to 50% by weight of the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid ester (B).
 21. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer contains from 0.5 to 50% by weight of the mono(meth)acrylate (C).
 22. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer (I) contains from 0.5 to 50% by weight of the alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester (B) and the mono(meth)acrylate (C).
 23. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer (I) has a number average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 2,000,000.
 24. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fluorine-containing polymer (I) has a viscosity of from 1,000 to 500,000 cps at 25° C.
 25. The composition of claim 1 wherein the proportions, by weight, of the fluorine-containing polymer (I), the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III) and the polyfunctional monomer (IV) are in the following ranges:(III):(IV)=1:1,000 to 95:5. (II):(III)+(IV)=50:50 to 1,000:1, (I):(II)+(III)+(IV)=1:99 to 10,000:1.
 26. The composition of claim 1 wherein the proportions, by weight, of the fluorine-containing polymer (I), the fluorine-containing (meth)acrylate (II), the mono(meth)acrylate (III) and the polyfunctional monomer (IV) are in the following ranges:(III):(IV)=1:1,000 to 5:1, (II):(III)+(IV)=50:50 to 100:1, (I):(II)+(III)+(IV)=1:9 to 9:1.
 27. The composition of claim 1 which has been cured. 